02:32Mandatory credit: Moscow City Court
Moscow city court on Wednesday evening branded opposition politician Alexei Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption and his network of regional offices across Russia as 'extremist' groups.
The court ruled to immediately liquidate the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), the Foundation for the Protection of Citizens' Rights (FZPG) as well as his network of regional offices.
The ruling bans Navalny’s organisations from spreading information in the media, using banking institutions, participating in elections, and organising public events.
“These organisations deliberately spread information inciting hatred and enmity against government officials, a number of political parties and social movements and committed extremist crimes and offences. Also, these organisations regularly held unauthorised mass public events, which often ended in riots. It should be especially noted that they involved youngsters in these activities, which created a threat to their life and health,” said Aleksei Zhafyarov, a spokesperson for the Moscow prosecutors who filed the motion, after the ruling was announced.
Soon a statement denouncing the hearing as ‘a travesty of justice’ was posted on the jailed politician’s Instagram page. “We are not going to abandon our aims and ideas. This is our country and the only one we have,” the statement says.
Navalny’s allies confirmed they will appeal the ruling within 10 days.
Russia: Moscow court outlaws Navalny’s organisations
Moscow city court on Wednesday evening branded opposition politician Alexei Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption and his network of regional offices across Russia as 'extremist' groups.
The court ruled to immediately liquidate the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), the Foundation for the Protection of Citizens' Rights (FZPG) as well as his network of regional offices.
The ruling bans Navalny’s organisations from spreading information in the media, using banking institutions, participating in elections, and organising public events.
“These organisations deliberately spread information inciting hatred and enmity against government officials, a number of political parties and social movements and committed extremist crimes and offences. Also, these organisations regularly held unauthorised mass public events, which often ended in riots. It should be especially noted that they involved youngsters in these activities, which created a threat to their life and health,” said Aleksei Zhafyarov, a spokesperson for the Moscow prosecutors who filed the motion, after the ruling was announced.
Soon a statement denouncing the hearing as ‘a travesty of justice’ was posted on the jailed politician’s Instagram page. “We are not going to abandon our aims and ideas. This is our country and the only one we have,” the statement says.
Navalny’s allies confirmed they will appeal the ruling within 10 days.
Mandatory credit: Moscow City Court
Moscow city court on Wednesday evening branded opposition politician Alexei Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption and his network of regional offices across Russia as 'extremist' groups.
The court ruled to immediately liquidate the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), the Foundation for the Protection of Citizens' Rights (FZPG) as well as his network of regional offices.
The ruling bans Navalny’s organisations from spreading information in the media, using banking institutions, participating in elections, and organising public events.
“These organisations deliberately spread information inciting hatred and enmity against government officials, a number of political parties and social movements and committed extremist crimes and offences. Also, these organisations regularly held unauthorised mass public events, which often ended in riots. It should be especially noted that they involved youngsters in these activities, which created a threat to their life and health,” said Aleksei Zhafyarov, a spokesperson for the Moscow prosecutors who filed the motion, after the ruling was announced.
Soon a statement denouncing the hearing as ‘a travesty of justice’ was posted on the jailed politician’s Instagram page. “We are not going to abandon our aims and ideas. This is our country and the only one we have,” the statement says.
Navalny’s allies confirmed they will appeal the ruling within 10 days.